Appearing yesterday at a domestic violence conference for the first time since she quipped at a similar gathering that she would like to "shoot" pop diva Britney Spears, Maryland first lady Kendel S. Ehrlich said, "The last time I spoke on this topic, I got a little too passionate."

Speaking to an audience of about 50 at Carroll Community College on the need for women to be educated and financially independent, Ehrlich also said she learned a lesson from her off-the-cuff remark this month on the entertainment industry's portrayal of women.

"I am not just Kendel in somebody's kitchen," she said. "In my role as first lady, there are a lot more people listening. It's a lesson that I learned in a big way."